"I'm overwhelmed and humbled by the intensity of the ANTM fan base whose deep affection for the show led me to have a change of heart," Banks said in a statement. "After giving it a lot of thought, I realized that remaining behind the camera wasn't enough because ANTM is woven into my DNA."

Ken Mok, a fellow ANTM exececutive producer, released his own statement to thank Ora.

"Tyra has always been the heart and soul of the franchise and her absence was deeply felt by our fiercely loyal fans who missed their Queen of the Smize," Mok said in the statement. "We'd like to thank Rita Ora for being a great partner and total pro. She infused this new iteration of ANTM with passion and creativity and we wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors."

The 24th cycle of VH1's America's Next Top Model is slated to start this summer.

Ora, for her part, was appreciative of the chance to step in for a season: